The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-01-13
TAo Kind Woras of . v1sltoe to
TAuHAhDn1D0.

The Kind Weras o. . vfsitee to
Tallahassee
Gen. r. A. Friedrich, the genial gentle
man from Kansas who recently visited
contributes to the Topeka |
Capital, the great daily Of his State, very |
sketches OF his observations
in and about our city. From his letters,
we extract - follows, regretting that we
have no space for more:
TALLAHASSEE, Fla, December %.
Christmas day in the south.
To one unacouainted with the south, its peo
pie and customs il Is difficult to understand the
siynidcance of tho above sentence. In the
north aRd west the observance OF Christmas Is
comparatively commonplace, all the surplus en-
ergy and enthusiasm being reserved for the
Fourth of July Such is not the case down
here. " the glorious fourth creates scarcely
ripple of excitement but on Christmas the
southerners arouse themselves, and go in for
season Of jolity and Joy. High and low, rich
and poor, white and black, enter into the spirit
of the occasion with q whole hearted abandon
that ia refreshing and delightful to behold. The
city to-day IL literally swarming with colored
people, laughing, singing, screaming, uproariOus
none of your starchy, dudish kind, but genu-
inc old-Ashioned plantation darkies, who have
come into town from all the country around.
aunties with flaming bandana turbans and white
cotton ffocks Uncle Tom, with snow white
hair, probably adorned with stove-pipe hat
fashionable in the forties. And then to see them
coming in Some are on foot, but this is the
exception; they generally ride. Talk of your
dog cartsl The negroes and crackers OF Flo
rida have more of them 10 the population than
all the fashionables of the north combined-and
they are wonderfully and fearfully constructed.
Sometimes little mule trots knowingly along,
pulling the whole family in a cart but oftener
you will see q single native steer, about the size
and color Of . well bred jersey, bridled and Bit
ted lie howe, stepping ahead, nimbly draw
ing cart containing perfect pyramid OF dusky
passengers
The weather here is just perfect. notice
ladies on their way TO church to-day dressed, as
it seems 10 me, the same as their Topeka sisters
do in June, without wraps of any kind. just
now l would be willing to exchange about a
section of Kansas soil for ten acres of Florida
climate
Tallahassee is situated in Middle Florida its
topography is rolling and picturesque. and re-
minds one very much of old Virginia and the
blue grass region OF Kentucky. The altitude is
comparatively high, the surface we'll drained,
consequently the general health is excellent.
The people here are kind, hospitabe and hon.
orable, with far less partizan bitterness than we
have in Kansas One may hear more politics
talked, of personal and denunciatory character
around the old Topeka court house in two hours
than he would here in two months. The peo-
pie of Florida want northern men and women
and invite and encourage them. They will not
inquire their politics, and care not straw
whether they come from Plymouth or Charleston,
all are equally welcome.
Tallahassee is rich in points of historical in
terest and traditions of the old regime. The old
mansions with their monster pOrticOs and CAPT
tOlne pillars all bespeak the former splendor
and af1uence OF those old FloIidians whose
glory has passed away.
Among those things that stranger here al
ways views with interest, are the old plantation
home and burying place of the Prince and Prin-
cess Murat Away back in the twenties the
Marquis of Lafayette owned a large grant fland
in this vicinity, which had been bestowed on
him by our government in grateful recognition
of the services he rendered the Americans dur
ing the revolutionary war. Through his influ-
ence the descendants OF many noble and dstin-
gushed French families found homes in Florida,
some purchasing lands of him, Others settling
elsewhere in the county. While lookng over
the old county records came across several
county, the originals of which, l am informed,
are in the hands of q gentleman living near
Prince Murat bought plantation some two
miles west of this town, and built old fash
toned typical plantation house He owned sew
eral hundreds of slaves and lived as he came,
the son Of one of the greatest soldiers Of the
world. He died in Al, and his wife, who was
the daughter of distinguished Virginian, died
less than twenty years ago.
In the. old Episcopal cemetery situted near
this city, there stands two unpretentous white
marble shafts, side by side, without carving or
ornament They are surrounded by low brick
wall partially tumbled down. On the first is in
scribed, Departed This Life April the 10, 1847 :.
Charles Ionic Napoleon Aohillos Murar, Son Of
the King of Naples and Caroline Murat, Aged
AZ. This Monument is Dedicated by his Wife,
Catherine in Perpetual Memory of Her Love-"
On the other Sacred to the Memory of
Princess c. A. Murat, Widow of Colonel Charles
Louis Napoleon Achilles Murat, and Daughter
of the Late Colonel Bird G. Willis Of Va, De-
parted this Life on the 9th of August, 1857, in
the Gath year of her age. A kind and affection
ate wife and sister, u sincere and devoted friend
"None knew her but to love her;
None named her but to praise"
As l looked on those silent columns, they
seemed to tell pathetic story. Here slept the
son Of that great cavalry marshal of France the
close aud trusted friend of the emperor, Napo-
leon Bonaparte, and later king Of Naples.
But for few minutes rainfall al Waterloo,
this quiet and unassuming exile. who had died
in land of strangers and lay at rest under this
simple slab might have gone to his grave with
a nation following his bearse and have be-
queathed glittering crown to his descendants
Several old citizens remembered him standing
about the streets of Tallahassee.
have been in this quiet old city off and on
for a week. The journey to Florida from Kan
sas over the route travelled is delightful one
From Kansas City to Memphis by the Kansas
City, Fort Scott & Gulf line, which is the short
est and quickest to Memphis then by the Louis
vile, New Orleans s. Texas road TO New Or
leans, from New Orleans, via the Louisville &
Nashville to River Junction. At River Junction
you take the Florida Railway and Navigation
Company road to Tallahassee, Jacksonville
everywhere. What the Santa Fe is to Kansas
and the West, the Louisville & Nashville system
of roads is to the South and Southwest It's pro
gress in q few years has been wonderful II is
under the management and control of gentlemen
who have rank with the best railroad men of the
world. Colonel G. Marshall, General Supcrin-
tendent, has his headquarters at New Orleans
He is an able and efficient manager, and his cour-
teOus and kind treatment of the public has con.
tributed largely 10 The patronage and popularity
of his roads. To those who used 10 travel over
the old parent stem from Louisville to Nashville.
it is matter OF great surprise to learn of the
great strides it has made since. 1t now takes
nine days, rolling at the rate of 30 miles an hour,
to pass over the the entire system of roads.
The Florida Railway and Navigation Com.
pany are making Florida a net work of roads
and have developed the State as it never was be.
fore. One intending to visit Florida for pleasure
or business will do well to put himself in the
hands OF this company. Their lines are managed
as systematically and tremendously as any of the
old Northern systems-passengers can reach any
part of Florida quickly and with safety by these
routes. The General Passenger Agent is Captain
MoNn.,nolA xnyho h.,o 70 H.,